Meditation, the only way to stall societal decay: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar urges people to focus on positive sides of life. Sri Sri Shankar in his interview on Zee Media’s ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’ argues for ban on the sale of alcohol and strict implementation of laws to help stem decay in society.

Zee Research Group/ Delhi New Delhi: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says yoga and meditation is the only way to put an end to pervasive moral decay in the society. In an exclusive conversation with Zee Media anchor Mimansa Malik on Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’s Zara HatKe show, the spiritual guru and founder of the Art of Living Foundation dwelt at length on the vexed issue of societal decay making a fervent appeal to focus on the positive side of life and neglect the negative energies.According to the Annual Health Survey 2012 conducted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, nearly 62.5 million people in India drink alcohol with the per capita consumption being around four litres per adult per year. For every six men, one woman drinks alcohol in India. India has one of the largest alcoholic beverage industries in the world, producing 65 percent of the alcohol in south-east Asia. It also contributes to about seven percent of the total alcohol beverage imports into the region. Demanding a total ban of alcohol sale in the country in view of the adverse impact it has on youth in the country, Sri Sri, told #bbv on Zee News, “About 90 percent of all cases of crime against women happen when the culprits are in an intoxicated condition. The liquor sale has increased by three fold times in the last few years in India which has further worsened the situation.” On being asked that despite of having spiritual gurus, still the situation of our society is pathetic, Sri Sri replied that the population of corrupt people is more and to cater to the services of people the number of spiritual gurus are less, hence there should be a spiritual guru in each and every village to serve the people. Globalisation is not the culprit behind societal decay in India. Concurring with the above view, Sri Sri Shankar said, “It is very wrong to blame globalisation and western world influence behind the societal decay in the country. India has and always be a part of the global world. Our country has shown the path of non-violence to other countries through yoga, meditation and spirituality. Offering solutions to check the problem of societal decay, Sri Sri Shankar in his Zara Hatke #bbv interview urged people to focus on the positive side of life. “All, especially children and youth, should practice yoga and meditation.” He also requested people to look deep inside one’s own inner self and serve people selflessly. (The show airs on Thursday@10 pm)